The Biden family adopted a German shepherd at the Delaware Humane Association Saturday after months of fostering the playful puppy.

Former Vice President Joe Biden dropped by the Wilmington shelter to finalize Major's adoption paperwork, said Kerry Bruni, the DHA director of animal care.

"I don't know who got more attention, the former vice president or the puppy," she said.

Biden welcomed the puppy into his home in March, after his daughter, Ashley Biden, sent him a Facebook post about a litter of German shepherds.

The six pups had been exposed to toxins, and were in critical medical condition when they arrived at the agency, Bruni said. They were hospitalized and treated before they returned back to the agency for care.

Biden called the agency and asked about the puppies, Bruni said. He wanted to adopt one of them because his older dog, Champ, was beginning to slow down, and he wanted a younger dog to be a companion for her, she said.

"Dogs are pack animals. It can be nice for older dogs to have someone to encourage them to play and exercise in a way humans can't," Bruni said.

Biden's staff members picked up one of the dogs and brought him to the family home, where he has been for the last eight months. The agency said